[muawiyah]

I signed up for cellphone service a couple of years ago with a company called Cingular. They offered rebates on the phones.

Turned out they paid the rebates with something like a gift card. Unfortunately every time you used the card the merchant would need to both call the vendor and key in a vast mass of information.

We never were able to use up all the value in the cards. Complaints to Cingular went un-answered. No doubt they got a windfall.

Clue to Congress-critters and others ~ make these guys refund unused cash value on cards to the users by certified check.

BTW, and this is a warning ~ I've had considerable experience with all the major cell phone companies throughout the United States. The cheating, lieing, good-for-nothing, robber-baron, bottom feeding, scum-sucking slimeballs at Cingular appear to be the most responsive and honest in the lot. So, beware.

[realpatriot]

BTW, and this is a warning ~ I've had considerable experience with all the major cell phone companies throughout the United States. The cheating, lieing, good-for-nothing, robber-baron, bottom feeding, scum-sucking slimeballs at Cingular appear to be the most responsive and honest in the lot. So, beware.

Now THAT'S what I call an endorsement!

[southland]

I totally agree with your view of the phone companies. Verizon stuck it to me about 1.5 years ago when I changed companies. I told them I would never be back. I don't really trust my present company but at least I do not presently have a binding contract.
Verizon adds a year to service contract when you call them about anything locally. How do you prove you did not verbally agree to a contract extension???

[armydoc]

Clue to Congress-critters and others ~ make these guys refund unused cash value on cards to the users by certified check.

Yeah, more government regulation. That's the ticket! We couldn't be expected to learn the conditions and limitations of a retailer promotion up-front and base our purchases accordingly, after all! Much better to just pass a new law.